As a boy growing up in New York City, Ernest Auerbach came to love horses. He would ride them for fun in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and would occasionally skip school in favor of the races at the Aqueduct Racetrack or Belmont Park.

The Brooklyn-born boy, who served briefly in the U.S. Cavalry during World War II, grew up to be a successful Santa Monica developer with a 1,000-acre thoroughbred breeding farm outside Ramona and several winning racehorses.

Whether he was developing a former pig farm in North County or a trendy block of businesses on Wilshire Boulevard, Mr. Auerbach had a knack for turning his visionary ideas into successful reality.

Mr. Auerbach died of pancreatic cancer Feb. 1 in Los Angeles. He was 93.

Friends and colleagues said he was a self-made man who liked being in the winner’s circle but also knew that it took hard work, planning and determination to get there.

He and his wife of more than 60 years, Lisa, made their home in Pacific Palisades but he made regular visits to EA Ranches, near Ramona.

“It was like a hideaway for him, a nice retreat in the country,” said his daughter Heidi Farkash. “He loved the egrets on the pond, the fragrance of the purple sage and the stars at night.”

Elise Kuhn of Ramona said Mr. Auerbach and his wife were generous to the local community and would lend their property for charity fundraisers.

“He was a wonderful gentleman and very down-to-earth. He loved Ramona,” said Kuhn, president of the Friends of the Library.

She said the Auerbachs donated funds for the construction of a new Ramona library and were at the groundbreaking a few months ago.

Longtime friend Art Field said Mr. Auerbach was a quiet man who didn’t brag about his success.

“It was so easy to be with him. Everybody liked Ernie,” Field said. “It was fun to go to the (race) track with him; everyone knew him.”

Mr. Auerbach tried to make every race his horses were in, said trainer Darrell Vienna, who worked with Mr. Auerbach’s horses for many years.

“He was a very special person, he had an aura about him. He was very wise, very kind and thoughtful,” Vienna said. “It’s easy to take victories, but he also took defeats in stride. He enjoyed life and he enjoyed horse racing.”

Mr. Auerbach developed the breeding and training farm after buying 1,000 acres near Ramona in 1977. He later founded Ramona National Bank, which later became First Business Bank.

His successful racehorses included Belle’s Flag and Lottery Winner.

Ernest Auerbach was born Sept. 25, 1916, to Harris and Sarah Auerbach. After completing high school in Brooklyn, he worked in the produce business with his brothers in upstate New York. During World War II, he started his military service in the U.S. Army Horse Cavalry shortly before it was eliminated. He later served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps.

After the war, he visited a relative in California and decided to stay. Friends and family said Mr. Auerbach believed in balance in life with family, business and community involvement. His philanthropic works benefited many Los Angeles-area organizations, including City of Hope, the Los Angeles Music Center, St. John’s Hospital, the Jewish Federation Council and American Jewish University.

Mr. Auerbach is survived by his wife, Lisa of Los Angeles; two daughters, Lorna Wheat of Los Angeles and Heidi Farkash of Rancho Santa Fe; and three granddaughters.

Services were held Feb. 4 in Los Angeles.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Mr. Auerbach’s name to the Jewish Healing and Hospice Center of Los Angeles, 10537 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA 90064; or American Jewish World Service.